Multispecies autocatalytic RNA reaction networks in coacervates
Abstract Robust localization of self-reproducing autocatalytic chemistries is a key step in the realization of heritable and evolvable chemical systems. While autocatalytic chemical reaction networks already possess attributes such as heritable self-reproduction and evolvability, localizing function...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-05-01
|
| Series: | Communications Chemistry |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-023-00887-5 |
| _version_ | 1797827637925642240 |
|---|---|
| author | Sandeep Ameta Manoj Kumar Nayan Chakraborty Yoshiya J. Matsubara Prashanth S Dhanush Gandavadi Shashi Thutupalli |
| author_facet | Sandeep Ameta Manoj Kumar Nayan Chakraborty Yoshiya J. Matsubara Prashanth S Dhanush Gandavadi Shashi Thutupalli |
| author_sort | Sandeep Ameta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Robust localization of self-reproducing autocatalytic chemistries is a key step in the realization of heritable and evolvable chemical systems. While autocatalytic chemical reaction networks already possess attributes such as heritable self-reproduction and evolvability, localizing functional multispecies networks within complex primitive phases, such as coacervates, has remained unexplored. Here, we show the self-reproduction of the Azoarcus ribozyme system within charge-rich coacervates where catalytic ribozymes are produced by the autocatalytic assembly of constituent smaller RNA fragments. We systematically demonstrate the catalytic assembly of active ribozymes within phase-separated coacervates—both in micron-sized droplets as well as in a coalesced macrophase, underscoring the facility of the complex, charge-rich phase to support these reactions in multiple configurations. By constructing multispecies reaction networks, we show that these newly assembled molecules are active, participating both in self- and cross-catalysis within the coacervates. Finally, due to differential molecular transport, these phase-separated compartments endow robustness to the composition of the collectively autocatalytic networks against external perturbations. Altogether, our results establish the formation of multispecies self-reproducing reaction networks in phase-separated compartments which in turn render transient robustness to the network composition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T12:51:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-56adabf365db48f58f2062f7644616a0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2399-3669 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T12:51:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Chemistry |
| spelling | doaj.art-56adabf365db48f58f2062f7644616a02023-05-14T11:10:51ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Chemistry2399-36692023-05-016111010.1038/s42004-023-00887-5Multispecies autocatalytic RNA reaction networks in coacervatesSandeep Ameta0Manoj Kumar1Nayan Chakraborty2Yoshiya J. Matsubara3Prashanth S4Dhanush Gandavadi5Shashi Thutupalli6Simons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental ResearchSimons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental ResearchSimons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental ResearchSimons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental ResearchSimons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental ResearchSimons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental ResearchSimons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental ResearchAbstract Robust localization of self-reproducing autocatalytic chemistries is a key step in the realization of heritable and evolvable chemical systems. While autocatalytic chemical reaction networks already possess attributes such as heritable self-reproduction and evolvability, localizing functional multispecies networks within complex primitive phases, such as coacervates, has remained unexplored. Here, we show the self-reproduction of the Azoarcus ribozyme system within charge-rich coacervates where catalytic ribozymes are produced by the autocatalytic assembly of constituent smaller RNA fragments. We systematically demonstrate the catalytic assembly of active ribozymes within phase-separated coacervates—both in micron-sized droplets as well as in a coalesced macrophase, underscoring the facility of the complex, charge-rich phase to support these reactions in multiple configurations. By constructing multispecies reaction networks, we show that these newly assembled molecules are active, participating both in self- and cross-catalysis within the coacervates. Finally, due to differential molecular transport, these phase-separated compartments endow robustness to the composition of the collectively autocatalytic networks against external perturbations. Altogether, our results establish the formation of multispecies self-reproducing reaction networks in phase-separated compartments which in turn render transient robustness to the network composition.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-023-00887-5 |
| spellingShingle | Sandeep Ameta Manoj Kumar Nayan Chakraborty Yoshiya J. Matsubara Prashanth S Dhanush Gandavadi Shashi Thutupalli Multispecies autocatalytic RNA reaction networks in coacervates Communications Chemistry |
| title | Multispecies autocatalytic RNA reaction networks in coacervates |
| title_full | Multispecies autocatalytic RNA reaction networks in coacervates |
| title_fullStr | Multispecies autocatalytic RNA reaction networks in coacervates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multispecies autocatalytic RNA reaction networks in coacervates |
| title_short | Multispecies autocatalytic RNA reaction networks in coacervates |
| title_sort | multispecies autocatalytic rna reaction networks in coacervates |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-023-00887-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sandeepameta multispeciesautocatalyticrnareactionnetworksincoacervates AT manojkumar multispeciesautocatalyticrnareactionnetworksincoacervates AT nayanchakraborty multispeciesautocatalyticrnareactionnetworksincoacervates AT yoshiyajmatsubara multispeciesautocatalyticrnareactionnetworksincoacervates AT prashanths multispeciesautocatalyticrnareactionnetworksincoacervates AT dhanushgandavadi multispeciesautocatalyticrnareactionnetworksincoacervates AT shashithutupalli multispeciesautocatalyticrnareactionnetworksincoacervates |